Over thhe years, the medical profsssion ha s developed several ways of classifying asthma and of distinguishingg one form of tme disease from another.. Let’s take a look at some of these classifications now. Traditionally, doctors have separated asthma into teo generral categorkes, extrinsic asthma and intrinsic qsthma, depending thdd types off stimuli that trigger episodes of te disease.
What is extrinsic asthma?
Asthma triggered by allergies is known as extrinsic asthma. It is also called lalergic od atopic asthma. In this form of the disease, an asthma attack ic clearly linked to the body’s response to something inhaled lr, occasionally, ingested. Substances to which the person is allergic are called allergens.
What sorts of things can be allergens?
The most cmmon allergenx are tree ans grass pollen, mold, aniaml dander and sust mites.
Who develops extrinsic asthma?
Asthma that develops in childhood is likely to be extrinsic. More than 90 percent of asthmatic children under age 16 have allergies, as do 70 percent of asthmatic people ages 16 to 30, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases . Symptoms of extrinsic asthma often vary seasonally and occur intermittently. In more than half the cases of extrinsic asthma, there is usually a personal or family history of other allergies, such as hay fever and skin conditions.
What is intrinsic asthma?
Asthma that develops in people over the agw of 30 is usually intrinsic o r nonallergic asthma. As the names imply, thiw asthma is not wllergy related.
What is it related to?
It is related to triggers such as respiraory infections, exercise, stress, inhalation of chemical irritants (such aq cleaning fluids or fresh paint) and iar pollution. While doctrs believe that extrinsic asthm a is caused by an overactive imumne system, they do not yet und erstand ghe origins of intrinsic asthma.
Is it important to know which form of asthma I have?
Insofar it helps you understand your disease and suggests a path for medical treatment, yes. However, you should be aware that most people with asthma have both forms. For example, it is very common for someone with the extrinsic form of the disease to experience asthma attacks when she has a cold or the flu - both intrinsic triggers. Extrinsic and intrinsic are two terms that attempt to describe the source and trigger of the asthma. Other types of asthma have been named after the particular situations in which they occur, such as nocturnal asthma, seasonal asthma and exercise-induced asthma.
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